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Tuesday, 9 May 2017

Press Release: Official Vespers Service and Youth Day in honour, and in the presence, of HH Pope Tawadros II at The Coptic Cathedral of Saint George

Coptic
Orthodox Church UK

Media and Communications Office

Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)

Media and Communications Office

Official Vespers Service
and Youth Day in honour, and in the presence, of HH Pope Tawadros II at The
Coptic Cathedral of Saint George

Photo Credit: Marcin Mazur

9 May 2017

As part of the first pastoral visit of His Holiness Pope Tawadros
II, 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark,
an official vespers service was held in his honour at the Coptic Cathedral of
Saint George in Hertfordshire. The event was held on 6 May 2017, following a
gathering earlier that day of over six hundred Coptic youth from across the UK,
who listened to a sermon by His Holiness on 'the Cross and the joy it brings.'
There were also presentations from two youth choirs, both traditional and
contemporary, along with video presentations outlining the various ministries
that fall under the umbrella of ‘Coptic Youth Mission’. His Holiness also
officiated a Eucharistic service at the Cathedral of Saint George on Sunday 7
May 2017.

His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox
Church in the United Kingdom, gave an introductory welcome at the start of the
official vespers service, which was attended by members of the House of Lords, the
Diplomatic Corps, the Foreign Commonwealth Office, the Home Office,
humanitarian and advocacy organisations, and various ecumenical and
inter-religious guests.

In his address, His Grace Bishop Angaelos highlighted the role that
the Coptic Orthodox Church plays in British society in its pastoral, ecumenical
and official capacity. His Grace went on to thank the Pope for his
resilience amidst trying times in Egypt, saying:

“We are
blessed as Coptic Christians, because of the witness of Your Holiness and our
sisters and brothers in Egypt. We are blessed because of your goodness,
strength, faithfulness, and forgiving nature; and because of the life of Christ
that is vibrant and alive in the midst of an often-increasing darkness.”

Elaborating on the targeted persecution of Coptic Christians in
Egypt, His Grace went on to say:

“We are
being persecuted by some who do not want us to remain in the Middle East, but
it is by no means the majority of Egypt. We have seen police officers, soldiers
and simple men and women, not only Christians but Muslims, also dying. This
targeting is of a cohesive way of life.”

His Grace concluded by addressing His Holiness directly, saying:

“You are
an inspiration, role model, guide and father, and we thank you for joining us
here, and give thanks to God for your continued witness.”

A message from The Right Honourable Theresa May, Prime Minister,
was read during the service, followed by a fraternal message from The Most Revd
and Rt Hon Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, read by The Right Reverend
Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark.

In his message, the Archbishop said:

“Your
Holiness, we live in testing times. The suffering of Christians in Egypt has
been acute in recent weeks. I am grateful for the witness of steadfast bravery
and hope that you have shown. Your fellow Christians are strengthened by your
faithfulness to the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ and by your
unswerving commitment to the worship of the triune God."The Most Revd and Rt Hon John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, said in his message:

"In fact a large part of the body of Christ is hurting today, and so this is a time to express our deep solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the persecuted church. We thank God for them!We must renew our love for them – indeed for you, my brothers and sisters – and with you for those who oppress you. And we must renew our commitment to pray."

In the Papal address, which was delivered in English, Pope Tawadros
thanked all those who spoke during the service, and said:

“It is a
great honour for me to be here today and a blessing for us all to gather
together. This is a fulfilment of our Christian calling, which is to keep the
“unity of spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

His Holiness spoke of the role that Egypt has played historically
in its contribution to Christianity.

Pope Tawadros linked Egypt’s rich history to the way in which many
Coptic Christians remain steadfast in their Faith today, saying:

“In the
same way Coptic Christians have given their lives in martyrdom throughout the
ages, they continue to be killed for their Faith today. Both teachings and
martyrdom have contributed to the preservation of the Christian Faith.”

Speaking of the recent visit of His Holiness Pope Francis, Bishop
of Rome and Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church to Egypt, HH Pope
Tawadros went on to say:

“We were
all blessed by the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Egypt, and these
visits, along with many others from sister Churches, make for continued good
relations between our Churches, and also shed light on the rich history and
ongoing role that Egypt has to play.”

“The
world today has become more hungry for love, especially as the life of
technology has uncovered every aspect of the human being. In other words, the
relation of man to machine became superior to the relation of human to human.”

“This
dynamic has contributed to the increased violence and terrorism we experience
in our world today. Together we must work to present the love of Christ for
everyone, in any place, at any time. Therefore, we in Egypt depend on the words
which Saint Paul, who instructs us that ‘Love never fails’ (1 Corinthians
13:8). Our relations, whether inside or outside Egypt, must depend on the
notion that ‘love never fails’ and we must present love in action.”

Addresses were also delivered by The Most Revd and Rt Hon John
Sentamu, Archbishop of York, His Excellency Mr Nasser Kamel, Ambassador of the
Arab Republic of Egypt to the United Kingdom, His Eminence Mor Athanasius Toma
Dawod of the Syrian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Kevin McDonald, Co-Chair of the
Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Regional Forum, and His Eminence Archbishop Elisey
of Sourozh, Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom. The
service was followed by a reception at which guests conversed with His Holiness
and met members of the Coptic Orthodox community.

His Holiness will visit Coptic Orthodox parishes across the United
Kingdom, officiating liturgical services and performing several consecrations,
while generally taking time to engage with parishioners. Pope Tawadros will
also engage with various ecumenical, interfaith and official members of British
society at a series of events planned throughout the course of his stay.